Direction indicator



Aug. 7, 1923. I 1,463,826

' R. N. MCCLURE DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed 061:. 26 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fiodneyflf'Mf/are;

Aug. 7, 1923;

R. N. M CLURE' DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed 0d. 26. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 33 1 1 a mm mm 4% M2 Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

insert RODNEY N. MGOLURE, OF LQS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

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Application filed October 26, 1920.

T 0 all whom ifima l concern:

Be it known that T, RODNEY N. MOCLURE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction Tndicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a direction indicator which is especially designed for use on automobiles and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a direction indicator which is adapted to be automatically operated and controlled by the steering mechanism of the vehicle when turning the latter to the right or left to indicate the direction in which the vehicle is to be turned.

Another object is to provide a signal operating mechanism in a direction indicator of the above type which is adapted to be readily applied to an auto vehicle and which is of such character as to render it applicable to vehicles of various designs.

A further object is to provide a signal operating means adapted to be actuated by the side motion of the guiding mechanism of a vehicle on a predetermined length of such n'iovement, but which will permit continuation of the movement in turning the vehicle in either direction.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the front axle and the guiding wheels of an auto vehicle showing the invention as applied.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the op crating mechanism actuated by side movement of the guiding wheels.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure ti: is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a diagram in perspective 1llustrating the operation of the invention.

Figure 6 is a detail in perspective of one ofthe operating arms showing it in its advanced position.

Figure 7 is a detail in perspective showing a mechanism for manually operating the in dicator.

More specifically, reference being had to Figures 1 and 5, 10 indicates a front axle fitted with guide wheels ll ill' mounted on Serial No. 419,580.

steering knuckles 1212 having arms 1-3'13' connected by a drag link 14, as is common in auto vehicle construction.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a series of signal devices, here shown in Figure 5 as comprising pivoted plates 15, 16, and 17 hearing the words Stop, Left, and Right, respectively. Each of the signal plates are here shown as mounted on rock shafts 18, 19, and 20 supported in suitable bea ings, not shown, and normally disposed horizontally by the action of springs 12, 22, and 23 arranged to exert a pull on arms fitted on the rock shaft. The plates are designed to be rocked to a vertical position by means of bent arms 24, 25, and 26 pivoted at 27, 28, and 29 on suitable supports, not shown. The bent arms extending beneath the signal plates in slidable contact therewith and have extensions adjacent their pivots to which cables 30,31, and 32 are connected in such manner that on a pull being imparted to a cable an arm will be rocked so as to bear against the underside of a plate and lift it to a vertical position in opposition to a spring. The cable is designed to be operated by actuating a brake lever 38, such as the foot for controlling the service brakes of an auto vehicle, so that in applying the brakes the signal plate 16 bearing the word Stop will be thrown into its vertical or signaling position.

The essence of the present invention resides in a mechanism for operating the Left and Right signal plates and by which said plates may be automatically caused to move to their signaling position coincident with turning of the vehicle to the right or left.

In carrying out my invention as here illus trated, I employ a standard 34 carried on a base 34 and secured to a convenient point on the vehicle Mounted on the standard for rotary and reciprocal movement is a pair of spaced sleeves 35 and 36 and interposed between the sleeves is a rotary drum '37 around which a cable 38 is wound and secured, the end portions 39 and 40 of the cable extending oppositely from the drum. The cable 39 leads to the knuckle arm 13 and the cable 40 leads to the knuckle arm 13 in such manner that when the knuckle arms move to the right from center the drum will be rotated in one direction andwhen moved to the left from. center the drum will. be rolot tated in the opposite direction. The adjacent ends of the sleeves 35 and 36 are formed with arms 41 and 42 to the outer ends of which the cables 32 and 31 are connected respectively, and "formed on the opposite ends of the drum 37 are flanges 43 and 44 extending adjacent the arms 41 and 42 re spectively; each flange normally abutting at its end against a pin 45-46 on the arms 41 and 42 so that when the drum is turned in one direction from center one of the sleeves will be turned therewith and when rotated from the opposite direction from center the other sleeve will be turned. in this manner motion will be transmitted from the guiding wheels to the signal plates.

As a means for permitting continued sideways movement oi": the guidin wheels and of the drum after the signal plates have been moved to their signaling position, the sleeves are designed to be thrown out of rotating connection with the drum. To effect this result the sleeves 35 and 36 are formed with inclined slots 47 and 48 into which pins 49 and 50 mounted on the standard 34 project; the pin and slot connection operating on rotation of the sleeve to advance the sleeves on the standard away from the ends oi the drum in opposition to springs 51 and 52 hearing against the sleeves. The springs 51 and 52 operate to advance the sleeves on the standard toward the drum and co-operate with the pins and slots to retract the sleeves on retrograde movement oi the drum. The outward movement of the sleeves moves the pins 45 and 46 from in front the ends of the flanges 43 and 44 so that the pins will ride upon the outer faces of the flanges to retain the sleeves stationary in their advanced and outermost positions during further rotation of the drum.

Means are provided whereby the signals Left and Right may be manually operated independent of the guide wheels and is here shown as embodying a rotary shaft 53 adapted to be turned by hand and connected to mechanism for rocking the arms 41 and 42 independent of the drum.

In the form of the manual control shown in Figure 5, the shaft is connected by a universal joint 54 to a shaft 55 alined with the standard 34, on which shaft 55 a plate 56 is mounted carrying a pair of dependent bars 57 and 58 projecting rearwardly of the arms 41 and 42 in such manner that rocking of the shaft 55 in one direction on one side of center will act to ZLQVEtIlCG the arm 41 and pull on the cable 32, and on rocking the shaft 55 in the opposite direction from center will. act to advance the arm 42 and pull on cable 31. In Figure 7 of the drawing, the shaft 53 is shown as provided with a pair or diverging arms 59 and 60 attached to push rods 61 and 62 slidable in bearings 63 and 64, and having projections 5'? and 58 extending adjacent the back edges of the arms 41 and 42, in such manner as to operate on turning the shaft 53 on either side of center to rock the arms and pull on the cables according to which signal plate it is desired to operate. It will now be seen that the manual control may be operated independent of the automatic control.

The operation of the invention is apparent from the foregoing, it being seen that on turning of the guide wheels in either direction a signal plate will be operated accordingly to signal that the vehicle is turning to right or l it and that the signal will be maintained in the signaling position throughout the turning movement of the vehicle.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, 1 do not limit myself to the exact details of construction shown, but may employ such changes and modifications in construction and arrangement as come within the scope of the appended claims.

it claim:

1. In a direction. indicator for vehicles, h aving guiding mechanism, a pair of direction indicating members normally disposed in an idle position, a drum, means for rotating said drum by said guide mechanism, means whereby rotation of said drum will. operate to move the indicating members into an operative position, and means whereby said direction indicating members may be manually operated independent of said drum.

2. In a direction indicator for vehicles, having guiding mechanism, a drum, a cable wound around said drum and attached thereto with the ends oi? the cable extending in opposite directions and connected to the guiding mechanism whereby turning of the vehicle will rotate the drum, a pair of direc tion indicating members, means operable by the rotation of said drum for actuating either of said indicating members according to the direction of rotation of the drum on either side of its central position, and means whereby said direction indicating members may be manually operated independent of said drum.

3. In a direction indicator for vehicles, having guiding mechanism, a drum, a cable wound around said drum and attached there to with the ends of the cable extending in opposite direct-ions and connected to the guiding mechanism whereby turning of the vehicle will rotate the drum, a pair of direction indicating members, means operable by the rotation of said drum for actuating either of said indicating members according to the direction of rotation of the drum on either side of its central position, and means whereby said drum may continue rotation after operating either of the direction indicating members.

a. In a direction indicator for vehicles, having guiding mechanism, a drum, a cable wound around said drum and attached thereto with the ends of the cable extending in opposite directions and connected to the guiding mechanism whereby turning of the vehicle will rotate the drum, a pair of direction indicating members, a pair of arms arranged at the ends oi the drum, cords con necting said arms to the direction indicating members for operating the latter, and means whereby rotation of the drum away from central position on either side will advance either ot' the arms.

5. in a direction indicator for vehicles, having guiding mechanism, a drum, a cable wound around said drain and attached thereto with the ends of the cable extending in opposite directions and connected to the guiding mechanism whereby turning of the vehicle will rotate the drum, a pair of direction indicating members, a pair of arms arranged at the ends of the drum, cords connecting said arms to the direction indicating members for operating the latter, means whereby rotation of the drum away from a central position on either side will. ad-

'ance either of the arms, and means for throwing said arms out of operative connection with the drum at the end of the outer stroke of said arm whereby the drum may be permitted to continue rotation after advancing said arm.

6. In a direction indicator for vehicles, having guiding mechanism, a drum, a cable wound around said drum and attached thereto with the ends of the cable extending in opposite directions and connected to the guiding mechanism whereby turning of the vehicle will rotate the drum a pair of direction indicating members, a pair of arms arranged at the ends of the drum, cords connecting said arms to the direction indicating members for operating the latter, means whereby rotation of the drum away from a central position on either side will advance either of the arms, means for throwing said arms out of operative connection with the drum at the end of the outer stroke of said arm whereby the drum may be permitted to continue rotation after advancing said arm. and springs acting on said arms to restore them to normal on return of the drum to normal.

7. in a direction indicator for vehicles, the combination of the vehicle guide wheels, a drum, means for rotating said drum by turning the guide wheels from side to side whereby the drum will be moved to either side of the central position on turning the guide wheels to the right or left, a standard on which said drum is mounted, a pair of sleeves movable lengthwise of and turnable' on said standard arranged adjacent to the ends of the drum having inclined slots, pins on said standard extending into said slots whereby turning oi? the sleeves will cause them to move lengthwise of the standard, springs bearing on said sleeves opposing their outward movement on the standard away from the drum, means whereby either of the sleeves will be rotated and advanced on the standard on rotation of the drum to either side of the central position, and direction indicating members controlled by said sleeves.

S. In a direction indicator for vehicles, the combination of the vehicle guide wheels, a drum, means for rotating said drum by turning the guide wheels from side to side whereby the drum will be moved to either side of the central position on turning the guide wheels to the right or left, a standard on which said drum is mounted, a pair ofsleeves movable lengthwise of and turnable on said standard arranged adjacent to the ends of the drum having inclined slots, pins on said standard extending into said slots whereby turning of the sleeves will cause them to move lengthwise of the standard, springs bearing on said sleeves opposing their out ward movement on the standard away from the drum. means whereby either of the sleeves will be rotated and advanced on the standard on rotation of the drum to either side of the central position. direction indicating members controlled by said sleeves, and means whereby th sleeves may be held in an advanced position on the standard in opposition to the springs to permit continued rotation of the drum without iturther rotation of the sleeve.

RUDNEY N. MCGLURE. 

